Tokyo folk duo nature airliner are releasing their new single "12 Billion Arms" in conjunction with a Youtube video by Free Hug campaign artist Vincent Marx, on Tuesday, June 21st, 2011. nature airliner's record label, Prograde Trax (Tokyo) is pleased to announce that this is an original version of the song, arranged especially for the Free Hug campaign video, and will be available at all major online retailers on the release date.

In the past year Vincent Marx has been spearheading the Tokyo branch of the global "Free Hug" movement (started in Australia in 2004 by "Juan Mann"), standing in strategic places in downtown Tokyo, holding a sign reading "Free Hugs". He then posts compilation videos of his exploits on Youtube. In December of 2010, he approached songwriter Laurier Tiernan (guitarist for nature airliner) with a request that he write an original song that could serve as a soundtrack for one of his videos. In the spring of 2011 Laurier presented the requested song to Vincent, which he had recorded with his newly-minted folk duo, nature airliner.

nature airliner evolved out of an unlikely husband-and-wife collaboration. Eiko (vocals) had never sung professionally before, and never dreamed of being a singer. Laurier (guitar) played various instruments in more indie rock bands than you can shake a stick at. In the summer of 2010 they joined forces to start playing unplugged shows of Laurier's unreleased songs which suited Eiko's voice. The first single, "Merry Christmas (to Our Loved Ones)" was released November 1st, 2010, and the first EP was launched November 15th, 2010. Both are available at all major online retailers. Yamaha provided them with a Silent Guitar ™ as an endorsement on November 26th, 2010. In December 2010 they accomplished a successful mini tour of Micronesia, culminating in a two-night stint at the Hard Rock Café Guam. A jeans endorsement deal with Levi Strauss followed on March 7th, 2011. "12 Billion Arms" will be their second single for Prograde Trax (Tokyo). An album is planned. Videos are pondered. European and North American tours are dreamed of. Please stay tuned.